BRITAIN’S only remaining train maker yesterday secured its future in a victory for the Daily Express after clinching a £1billion deal to make rolling stock for London’s Crossrail.

Artist’s impression shows the Bombardier design for the new trains it will supply to Crossrail [PA]

The contract to build 65 state-of-the-art trains will safeguard more than 1,000 jobs and 100 apprenticeships and boost suppliers across the country.

Derby-based Bombardier saw off competition from Japan’s Hitachi and Spain’s CAF to land the deal.

It marks a turnaround for Bombardier, which in 2011 controversially lost out to German giant Siemens on a deal to build trains for the £1.5billion Thameslink rail line. That led to 1,400 Bombardier jobs being axed and fears it could close altogether.

The Daily Express led a “Battle for Bombardier” campaign to save the workforce and its skills and secure a fair deal for British businesses, with 75,000 readers signing a petition presented to Downing Street.

Chris Williamson, Labour MP for Derby North, who also campaigned for Bombardier, said: “We have fought long and hard for some good news, so it’s gratifying to know that the many months of hard work in championing Bombardier’s cause have been vindicated.”